On April 20, 2026, Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky introduced the bipartisan
Hemp Safety Enforcement Act, a new piece of legislation designed to counter the
federal ban passed last November.
If passed, the Hemp Safety Enforcement Act would allow states like Texas to continue regulating hemp on their own terms, rather than having their regulations overridden by federal restrictions.
The bipartisan piece of legislation is co-sponsored by Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa.
Update From Hometown Hero Cofounder & CEO Lukas Gilkey
What the Hemp Safety Enforcement Act Would Do
Essentially, the Hemp Safety Enforcement Act would block the federal ban and allow states to implement their own policies, but that’s not all.
In short, the act would:
- Give both states and tribal governments an opt-out from the ban so that they can take full control of hemp regulation.
- Adding safety protections, such as mandating that states that choose self-regulation must enforce a minimum age for purchasing hemp-derived products.
- Protecting interstate commerce of hemp-derived products
- Aligning with pro-research policies on CBD and other cannabinoids
Next Steps for Hemp Legality
While the fight is far from over, the introduction of this piece of legislation is some of the best news for the hemp industry since the ban was passed in November.
Bringing the bill forward is just the first step in the long process, which involves moving it through the Senate and the House of Representatives, and then being signed into law or vetoed by President Trump (which would require a 2/3 vote in both chambers to override).
Overall, all we can say is that we’re grateful for the recognition of the hemp industry on Capitol Hill, and besides that, we’ll keep you in the loop with any updates.
Until next time.
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